Information System Security Officer, Senior

Lead Security Engineer

When you join AIS, you're joining a mission-driven team that's passionate about making a difference. You'll work on projects that matter, alongside industry-leading experts, in an environment that fosters innovation, driving client success, and empowering our team to make a lasting impact. As an employee-owned company, we value collaboration, inclusivity, continuous growth, and shared success.

Employee Ownership: Your contributions directly impact the company's success, and you share in its achievements.

Continuous Learning: Access to resources, training, and mentorship to support your professional growth.

Inclusive Culture: A workplace where diversity is celebrated, and everyone's voice is valued.

Mission-Driven Work: Engage in projects that make a meaningful difference for our clients and communities.

At AIS, we are dedicated to providing our employees with diverse opportunities to grow their careers while supporting a variety of impactful projects. For this position, we are seeking a talented individual to join AIS as a Lead Security Engineer.

Core Knowledge & Skills: Develops strategic security plans, applies advanced cryptography, manages security programs, and designs secure cloud architectures.

Work & Complexity: Leads strategic projects, integrates security into business processes, develops risk management strategies, and ensures compliance.

Quality & Independence: Delivers strategic projects, develops innovative solutions, maintains high standards, and ensures stakeholder satisfaction.

Teamwork & Communication: Leads and mentors teams, aligns efforts with organizational goals, manages performance, and develops training programs.

Consulting & Engagement: Provides high-level consulting, leads innovation initiatives, develops technology roadmaps, and manages vendor contracts.

As your initial project assignment, you will support the unique needs of our client as a Information System Security Officer, Senior.

The Senior ISSO provides leadership and oversight for system security compliance, authorization, and continuous monitoring activities. This role ensures that systems meet all federal cybersecurity requirements and drives timely authorization outcomes while mentoring junior staff and coordinating across technical and program teams.

This is a proposal-based position; employment is contingent upon contract award and funding availability.

Lead documentation, testing, and comprehensive review of system security controls

Ensure full system boundary definition and accurate inventory of all technologies

Oversee and validate implementation of all assigned NIST 800-53 controls

Drive and manage system authorization (ATO) efforts to completion

Ensure proper system lifecycle management, including decommissioning strategies

Establish and enforce consistent continuous monitoring processes

Advise stakeholders on cybersecurity risks, compliance posture, and remediation strategies

Mentor Junior and Mid-level ISSOs

Interface with ISSMs, AO representatives, and auditors

Minimum 8+ years of ISSO or ISS Engineer experience in a cleared environment

Minimum 8+ years of cybersecurity or related technical experience

Bachelor's or advanced degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, IT, or related discipline. An additional 4 years' of experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

DoD 8570/IAT Level II certification or equivalent (CCNA Security, CyA+, GICSP, GSEC, Security+ or SSCP)

Advanced experience with security tools such as:

Tenable Nessus / Security Center

Splunk

IBM Guardium

HP WebInspect

NMAP or similar tools

Deep expertise in:

RMF and NIST 800-53

System authorization processes (ATO, IATT, ATO renewals)

Continuous monitoring best practices

Active Top Secret clearance

Experience supporting high-visibility federal or DoD programs

Prior experience mentoring or leading security teams

At AIS, we are committed to offering competitive and fair compensation that reflects the skills, experience, and contributions of each team member. The targeted base salary range for this role is $120,000-$181,000 per year. Please note that this range is provided as a guideline and the final offer will be based on several factors, including but not limited to, skillset and competencies, level of experience, education, certifications, and location.

We value transparency in our hiring process and are happy to discuss how your unique qualifications align with our compensation structure during the interview process.

Applied Information Sciences does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis. Employment decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs.